What will Cardiac Surgery Stepdown be like?
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I start working October in the Cardiac Surgery Stepdown Unit. I interviewed for the ICU and they offered me this because ICU was full. They say I will have post op CABG, Vascular, Valvular type... Read More

Oct 1, '05

This is a great thread. Im in a similair situation, new grad and offered MedSurg or CardioThoracic Stepdown. I'm entirely confused about which to choose. On the one hand I was always interested in Cardiology and the idea of specializing in something really interests me. At the same time, do I want to be dealing only with Cardiothoracic issues, as oppposed to seeing everything on medsurg?
Also, whats the average age of the CT patients? Are they mostly all seniors?

Funny thing is that my real interest is peds... and here I am consiering dealing with the opposite age group...

Oct 2, '05

[QUOTE=NYNewGrad] At the same time, do I want to be dealing only with Cardiothoracic issues, as oppposed to seeing everything on medsurg?
Also, whats the average age of the CT patients? Are they mostly all seniors?

I work on cardiac surgery stepdown as well. You will see pts who have acute & chronic renal failure, lung diseases, gi obstruction & bleeds, CVAs and alot of diabetes. The other day I had a pt who was a paranoid schizophrenic--that was fun! The population of theses pts have all sorts of problems. You might as well call it Medicine/CT Stepdown.
Don't feel like you are slighting yourself for choosing CT Stepdown. You will be getting alot out of it.
Anesthesia and the "pump" affects all the systems..you will get plenty of experience!!
Hope this helps!

Oct 2, '05

natrecor, dobutamine, dopamine....
I work in a stepdown unit and it is very overwhelming at times(i am new as well and just off of orientation) It will be alot but if you can get it you will be the best of the best.
congrats and good luck...

pm me if you have any questions.

Donna

Oct 2, '05

[QUOTE=NYNewGrad] Also, whats the average age of the CT patients? Are they mostly all seniors?

I almost forgot to answer your other question...Yes, you will mostly see senior pts. The is just an approx.. but the age range would be 55-80. However, there are 30yr olds who have CABGs!! Most of your younger pts are the valve replacements and repairs. Generally, the pts who have congenital problems see a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon.
Last week I took care of an 25 yo OB pt who dissected her aorta. Go figure..

Oct 2, '05

Also, whats the average age of the CT patients? Are they mostly all seniors?

NO. I have many seniors, yes, but many patients in their 50s (hardly what I'd consider a senior) and a handful in their 40s, too. As far as strictly surgical pt's, we get a few 30-some year olds too (removal of lung tumors, valve replacements, empyema). But since we also get other cardiac pt's, like chest pain, we see some in their 20's, too.

Oct 2, '05

Thanks for your replies. This is definitely something for me to think about, probably more so than MedSurg.

In checking out this unit, what are some things for me to ask about or look out for? Nurse:Patient ratio, floating, RN responsibilities on this unit... what else?

Oct 16, '05

Cardiac surgery is surgical with some medical outliers. Its fab the patients are generally young ish so you can have a giggle as well as be serious. Very busy though I work in Wales and not very often do I finish on time. We get pre op and post op. It a fab job
enjoy